Final answer:
To avoid distraction by glare on water, one can change the camera angle relative to the reflective surface or use polarizing filters to reduce glare. Polarizing sunglasses can also help by exploiting the fact that glare is partially polarized light, although they won't eliminate it completely.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photographers and viewers alike can find the glare on water to be a distracting element that obscures the true beauty of a scene. There are a couple of effective methods to reduce or avoid this type of distraction. One strategy is to change your angle relative to the reflective surface when taking pictures to prevent the flash from bouncing directly back into the camera. For instance, if you were photographing someone wearing glasses, a slight tilt of their glasses could help mitigate the reflection.
Another reliable method is the use of polarizing filters. These can be attached to a camera lens or come in the form of sunglasses for everyday use. Polarizing sunglasses are particularly effective in cutting down the glare that you might experience on sunny days around water or snow because they exploit the fact that glare is usually partially polarized light. By rotating the filter or sunglasses, you can reduce the intensity of the glare, comparing two photographs of a river, one taken with a polarizing filter and one without it.
It is worth noting that while these filters can greatly decrease glare, they will not eliminate it entirely due to the partial polarization of reflected light. Nonetheless, they are a powerful tool in both photography and in enhancing visual comfort in high-glare environments.